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Few products could support a highly profitable industry if their use was banned indoors in public.

Yet 10 years on from the smoking ban, the tobacco industry continues to generate cash almost unabated, surviving wave after wave of public legislation, from plain packaging to increased taxation.

The industry spluttered in 2007 when the ban came into force but dusted itself off by slashing costs. It was helped by the deftness of parts of the hospitality industry which adapted to keep smokers feeling welcome with designated outdoor areas.

The battle over public smoking appears lost. Support for the smoking ban has risen since it was introduced, according to surveys by the charity Ash.